Flooring and sheathing clamp.



H. KIMBLE. FLOORING AND SHEATHING. CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED APR-30. I917.

Patehted Oct. 29, 1918.

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1,283,209m Patented Oct. 29,- 1918.

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the tool ad- HOWARD KIMBLE, OF BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY.

FLOORING AND SHEATHING CLAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 29, 1918.

Application filed April 30, 1917. Serial No. 165,550.

, To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD 'KIMBLE, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident lowing is a specification.

The present invention relates to a tool or clamp adapted particularly for use by carpenters, builders, and others, in laying floors, in placing siding or sheathing, and for other similar uses.

'An object of the present invention is to provide a clamp, comprising relatively few parts, peculiarly constructed for interchangeable relation whereby the clamp may be adjusted for securement at various angles upon joists, rafters, posts, and studding, as well as against fiat surfaces and the like to adapt the clamp to various conditions met with in the laying of flooring, and the placing of siding, as well as like operations.

The invention further aims at the provision of a clamp witha novel form of pressure foot adapted to fit against the tongued edges of matched boards for compressing the latter together without injury to the tongues, V

tion, the same being disclosed as applied about a. rafter or joist and in operative engagement with floor boards or the like.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section taken through the body portion of the tool adjusted in the positionshown in Fig. 1,

Fig. '3 is aperspective view of j usted for application acrossthe upper edge ofa joist or rafter, the/view showing the pressure foot of the tool engaging the floor boards at one sideof the verticalplane of the rafter." Fig. 4: is an enlarged longitudinal section through the body portion, of .the tool. adjustedin a' position shown in Fig. 3,parts of the flanges 11.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the tool as applied to the upper surface of a joist or rafter, parts of the same being shown in section, the tool being adjusted particularly for use in laying double flooring or the like.

Fig. 6 is a detail enlarged plan view of the pressure foot andits connecting links.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective View of the outer end of the clamping bar, showing the adjustable surface engaging member applied thereto.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the tool adjusted for application to a joist or studding,

and as applied to sheathing or siding.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section through the tool as applied in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a transverse section through the tool as applied in Fig. 8, the section being taken outwardly of the pressure foot.

Referring to these drawings, wherein like parts are designated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views, 10 designates a yoke which is preferably formed of a single casting of substantially U-shape, provided with a pair of opposed relatively flat arms connected at their inner ends by a pair of bars or flanges 11, which are spaced-apart and provided therebetween with a groove or channel extending longitudinally across the inner end of the yoke 10. The yoke 10 is provided upon one end with a pair of spaced-apart ears 12 arranged substantially in parallelism, and which provide therebetween a channel or. groove communicating with and extending substantially at right angles to the groove between the This groove is thus formed across the inner end and along one side of the yoke 10. The flanges 11 and ears12 are provided with transverse registering openings or perforations adapted to receive therethrough a detachable pin or bolt 13. The arms of the yoke 10 are also so apertured for the reception of a detachable pivot bolt 14: which preferably engages in threaded relation at its free end with threads formed in the inner wall. of one of the apertures of the yoke arm. One of the arms ofthe yoke 10, preferably the arm opposite to the ears 12, is provided with a segment 15 formed by the notching of the free end of said arm, the segment being formed substantially concentric to the bolt-receiving opening in the arm.

' A clamping bar 16 which may be relatively long and flat, is provided at one end with a right-:angular1 xtendingliaed jaw 17, and

an undercut projection or lug 18 extending longitudmally from said end of the bar 16 beyond the fixed jaw 17. The clamping bar 16 is further provided with a movable jaw 19 having a sleeve portion embracing the bar 16. and adapted to slide longitudinally there: on. The clamping jaw 19 is provided with a thumb-screw 20 extending inwardly through the sleeved portion of the jaw, and adapted for bindingengagement with any one of a row of notches or depressions 21 formed in the adjacentside of clampingbar 16. The clamping bar lG'with its parts is adapted for engagement with the support, and the yoke 10 constitutes the head or body portion of the tool which is adj ustably mounted upon the end of the clamping bar.

The head or body 10 carries, adjustably, a hand lever, the same comprising a pair of spaced-apart drop or side members 22 secured at their inner ends iusuitably spacedapart relation by a bolt 23 about which placed a spacing sleeve 2--l, the latter engaging at opposite ends against the inner opposite faces of the side members 22. The side members 22 are provided at suitably spacedapart points, with transverse registering apertures 25 through which pivot pins or the like may be adjustably secured. To reduce frictional contact with the operating lever and the arms of the head or yoke 10, spacing collars 26 are preferably placed upon the pivot bolt 14: at the opposite outer sides of the side members 22 and against the inner opposite sides of the arms of the yoke. A handle 27 is fitted between the upper or outer free ends of the side members 22 and is provided with a transversely extending clamping bolt 28 provided with a wing nut or the like, and which is adapted to engage at its opposite ends in longitudinally extending slots or recesses 29 formed in the free ends of the side members The side members 22 are also provided with a clamping bolt 30 which is spaced inwardly from the clamping bolt 28 on the handle 27 when the latter is in position, and which is adapted to engage at its intermediate portion in a slot 31 formed in the inner end of the handle 27. The bolts 28 and 30 are adapted to be tightened against the outer side of the side members 22 to bind the inner end of the handle 27 between the side members 22. 3y loosening the bolts and 30, it is readily appreciated that the handle 27 may be readily withdrawn from between the side members, thus admitting of the separation and folding of the clamp into relatively small space.

hen the clamp is employed in the manner disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the jaw 17 of the clamping bar engages in the channel between the flanges 11, and the undercut lug 18 projects upwardly between the ears 12. The bolts 13 are now secured to the flanges and the ears to engage the fixed jaw 17 and the ear lug 18. The head or yoke 10 is placed upon the upper or outer edge of the joist A with the clamping bar 16 extending downwardly at one side of the joist, and the movable jaw 19 is adjust-ed longitudinally upon the bar 16 to engage the jaw 19 against the under or inner side of the joist A. The operating lever is now placed between the arms of the yoke 10 with the pivot bolt 14 engaging through the arms and through a pair of the openings 25 in the side members 22, such as the second pair of openings from the inner end of the operator lever.

The spacing sleeve 24: may comprise the inner end of a link 32 which extends laterally to the side of the head 10 and which is crossed at its outer end and preferably ofi'set d )wnwardly. A pressure foot 33 is pivotally mounted in the crossed end of the link 32 by a bolt or pivot pin 3-32. The pressure foot 33 is in the form of a flat plate having an outer straight-line edge adapted for engagement against the edge of the adjacent floor or siding board B. The said edge of the pressure foot 33 is preferably of a thick ness to equal substantially the width of the floor board B at one side of the tongue C thereof, and the pressure foot 33' is provided with a detachable and adjustable side member or block held. to the body-plate of the pressure foot 33 by bolts 36 and having a relatively thick or shouldered inner end adapted to lie against the body of the pressure foot 33 and space the free edge of the block therefrom. The free edge of the block is adapted to engageagainst the board B at the opposite side of the tongue C thereof. This construction prevents the crushing or mutilation of the tongue C at the portion of the board B against the pressure toot. Thebody plate of the pressure foot is preterably provided with a recess in its outer edge,

' as indicated at 37 in the drawings, the mar ginal edge of the recess being beveled inwardly or downwardly for the reception of a nail or the like which may be driven into the adjacent edge of the floor board 13. The

pressure foot is provided with an inner and the link 32, being connected to the opcrating lever below the pivot belt 1 1, is urged forwardly toward the boardB and binds the pressure foot' against the'l-ioards to crowd the latter together. A. locking pin 39 may be passed through a pair of the openings 25 in the side members 22, and through the adjacent notch inthe segment 15 ofthe head to retain the Operator lever in position when the same is swung backwardly and placed under tension. The pin 39 thus holds the pressure foot 33 against the floor board B to hold the same in compressed position while nails or the like may l. In each instance, the fixed jaw 17 of theclamping bar is engaged between the ears 12 of the head, with the undercut lug 18 engaging in looking relation with the free end of the adjacent arm of the head. In each instance, but one of the securing bolts .3 is employed, the latter being engaged through the ears 12. The clamp is now applied to the joist A with the bar 16 engaging against the upper surface of the joist, and the fixed jaw 17 and the movable jaw 19 engaging the opposite sides or edges of the joist. As the head 10 is in this instance held against one side of the joist and in a lower position than when the clamp is adjusted in Fig. 1, the pivot 14 is engaged through the apertures 25 of the operating leverwhich are formed adjacent to the inner end of the lever,'and the link 32 connected, by means of its bolt 23, in an upper pair of the apertures 25. This adjustment places :the pressure foot 33 in substantially the same relation with respect to the floor board as is shown in Fig.1, and to operate the lever, it. is necessary to swing the handie 27 inwardly toward the board B to bind the pressure foot 33 thereagainst;

vVhenit is desired to lay a double flooring, and access can not be had to the joist and rafters beneath the floor, the operating lever is connected to the head 10 in the same manner as is disclosed in Figs. 3 and 1. However, the clamping member 16 is secured to the head or body member 10 in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with the fixed jaws 17 engaging the flanges 11., In this instance, the outer free end of the clamping bar or member 16 is provided with an anchoring link or spur 40 having one end pivotally and detachahly engaging through the outer end of the bar 16,and having upon its opposite end adownturned prong adapted for biting engagement in the upper surface of the underflooring D, as shown in Fig. 5. In this adjustment of the clamp, the link is connected to the operating lever in the manner shown in Figs. 3 and 4 so that when the operating member isswung toward the floor board B, the pressure foot is urged thereagainst to hold the flooring boards tightly together. The head can of course in this instance be swung to one side, 01": the operating lever, in the direction of the clamping member 16, and the inner end of the operating member is adapted to rest upon the lower flooring I) or other support on which t-heupper flooring B is placed. In this instance, the locking pin 39 may be engaged through the apertures 25 in the operating lever, as in the other arrangememzs or adjustments of the clamp members. for securing theoperating lever in adjusted position when the same is placed at the desired tension. 7

In Figs. 8, 9, and 10, there is shown a further adjustment of the device, wherein the parts are assembled to operate upon a post or the like for placing sheathing or siding. In this instance, the clamping member 16 is adjusted to the head 10 in the same manner as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and the clamp member is placed with the bar 16 thereof engaging across the outer surface of the post with the jaws 17 and 19 engaging against the opposite edges of the post. When in this position, the ears 12 of the head 10 project outwardly, and the operating lever, which is connected to the head as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, projects outwardly or laterally from the post E. In this instance, the link 32 is secured by means of its pivot bolt 23 to the inner ends of the side members 22 at substantially right-angles to the form of arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the bolt 23 passing through an opening 41 formed in the inner end 01. the link 32 at right-angles to the sleeve opening therethrough. This adjustment of the link 32 in the inner end of the operating lever disposes the pressure foot 33 in line with the adjacent edge of the siding F, and the operating lever is swung vertically about its pivot pin 1% to move the pressure foot 33 toward and from the siding.

It will be noted that the parts of the clamp are relatively few, that they are of such construction as to provide the necessary strength and that they are so formed that they may be interfitted and adjusted to various positions for applying the clamp to practically all conditions met with during the laying of flooring and placing of siding, sheathii'ig and the like. i

It is of course understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction of the present preferred embodiment, without departing from the spirit of the invention, and being restricted only by the scope of thefollowing claims.

I claim 1. 111a tool as specified, the combination of a clamping member adapted for adjustment at various angles upon a support, a head adjustably mounted on the clamping member and adapted to be arranged at various angles according to the position of the clamping member, an operating lever adjustably mounted in said head, to accommodate the lever to the adjustment of the head, and a pressure foot adjustably and opera tively connected to said operating lever, for engagement with the work in all positions of adjustment of the clamping member, the head, and the operator lever.

2. In a tool as specified, the combination of a clamping member adapted for engagement with a support, a head adjustably mounted on the clamping member and adapted to be arranged at various angles thereto according to the position of the clamping member, an operating lever, a detachable pivot bolt carried by the head for engagementat various points with the operating lever to accommodate the same to adjustments of the head, a link detachably and adjustably connected to the operating lever for connection therewith at various points depending upon the'adjustment of the open ator lever, and a pressure foot carried upon the free end of said link.

3. In a tool as specified, the combination. of a clamping bar provided with a fixed jaw on one end, a movable jaw mounted upon the opposite end of the clamping bar, a head adapted to receive said fixed jaw therein, se curing means for holding the fixed jaw at various angles in the head, an operating lever pivotally and adj ustably mounted in the head, and a pressure foot adjustably connected to the operating lever.

4. In a tool as'specified, the combination of a head provided with spaced arms and communicating grooves in one end and at one side, a clamping member provided with angularly disposed projecting portions adapted for engagement in said grooves, means for detachably securing said angular portions in the grooves, one of said angular portions being provided with an undercut slot, and said clamping member being adapted tobe adjusted into the end groove with one angular portion lying therein and said undercut angular portion projecting over the adjacent arms to interlock the head and the clamping member, a movable jaw 011 the clamping member adapted to cooperate with one of said angular portions for binding against a support, an operating lever pivot-.

ally mounted between the arms of said head, and a pressure foot pivotally connected to said operating lever.

5. In a tool as specified, the combination of a head, anchoring means for the head, an operating lever comprising a handle portion and a pair of detachable side members connected to the handle portion said side members having transversely registering rows of apertures therethrough, a pivot bolt carried by the head for engagement through a pair of said apertures, a link, a pivot pin for the link adapted to engage through another pair of said apertures for detachably connecting the link to the operating lever, and a pressure foot mounted upon the outer end of said link for engagement with the work.

6. In a tool as specified, the combination of a head, anchoring means for the head, an operating lever comprising a handle portion and a pair of detachable side members connected to the handle portion, said side members having transversely registering rows of apertures therein, a pivot bolt car- .ried by the head for engagement through a pair of said apertures, a link, a pivot pin for the link adapted to engage through another pair .of said apertures for detachably connecting the link to the operating lever, a pressure foot mounted upon the outer end of said link for engagement with the work, and a locking pin adapted to extend through another pair of said apertures for engagement with said head to lock the lever in adjusted position.

7. In a tool as specified, the combination of a clamping member adapted for adjustment at various angles upon a support, a head adjustably mounted on the clamping member and adapted to be arranged at various angles according to the position of the clamping member, an operating lever adjustably mounted in said head to accommodate the lever to the adjustment of the head, a pressure foot adjustably and operatively connected to said operating lever for en gagement with the work in all positions of adjustment of the clamping member, the head and the operating lever, and means for locking the operating handle for movement in the head upon adjustment of the pressure foot against the work.

8. In a tool as specified, the combination of a clamping member adapted for adjustment at various angles upon a support, a head adjustably mounted on the clamping memberand adapted to be arranged at various angles according to the position 01": the clamping member, an operating lever adjustably mounted upon said head, said operating lever con'iprising a handle portion and a pair of detachable side members connected to the handle portion, said members having transversely registering rows of apertures therethrough, a pivot bolt carried by the head for engagement through a pair of said apertures, a link, a. pivot pin for the link adapted to engage through another pair of said apertures for detachably connecting the link to the operating lever, and a pressure foot mounted upon the outer end of said link for engagementwith the work.

9. In a'tool as specified, the combination of a clamping member adapted for adjustment at various angles upon a support, a head adjustably mounted on the clamping member and adapted to be arranged at various angles according to the position of the clamping member, an operating lever adjustably mounted upon said head, said operating lever comprising a handle portion and a pair of detachable side members connected to the handle portion, said members havingtransversely registering rows" of apertures therethrough, a pivot bolt carried by the head for engagement through a pair of said apertures, a link, a pivot pin for the link adapted to engage through another pair of said apertures for detachably connecting the link to the operating lever, a pressure foot mounted upon the outer end of said link for engagement with the Work, said head provided With a plurality of spaced notches, a locking pin adapted to extend through another alining pair ofsaid apertures and for seating in one of the notches in the head for locking said lever against movement upon adjustment of the pressure foot against the work.

HOWARD KIMBLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

